A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}

[Dixie_Flyer]

Went camping this weekend at a campground on the lake, had not been there for a few years. Once there I began to walk around looking at the different sites when I noticed a very old dog. He just lay there until I got too close then he got up on three legs and hobbled away. Just judging I would say he is at least 11 years old. Well back to my story. The next afternoon he wanders into camp and just sits there looking. He looked so sad, so the wife got a bowl of our dog's food and put it down for him and he came over and ate. He then walked over to our dog and the two of them sniffed each other over and then they lay down together for the rest of the afternoon. That night he disappeared.
The next morning he was back and was a little more receptive of me. I looked at his injured leg and found that half of his rear foot was gone. It had healed and was not causing any problem except that he was walking on the stub that was left with no foot pad which causes him to limp. His front teeth were gone except for one canine tooth and it looked decayed. His eyes were tired looking and showing his age. He spent the rest of the day just laying around looking for a handout and by afternoon the campground host came around and saw him. I enquired about the dog and was told he had been there for three years and that most of the campers were tolerant of him and gave him food.
So what to do? Do you pick him up and bring him home or do you let nature take it course. He can't harm anyone, he has no teeth and he isn't a nuisance unless you don't like dogs, and no one seems to mind him being there. He is gentle and likes other animals as seen by his interaction with our dog. He still would not let me touch him but he would eat from my hand. Enough said, what would you do???

On June 28th 2008 Old Fella passed away of complications caused by bone cancer. Fella spent almost three years with his new family and became the icon of rescued old stray dogs. He will be greatly missed but his foot prints have been left in our hearts forever.

Now Charlie, the ten year old rescued Golden Lab has come to be a part of the continuing Old Fella story. (*Note, Charlie took his journey to Rainbow Bridge unexpectedly September 30, 2008)Suzie continues to charm her way into our hearts with her antics as she has grown from a puppy into a young lady. Togther they will carry on the Old Fella legacy. Come join us in their daily lives and be a part of the best feel good thread in RV.NET history. The legacy lives on.


HIghways Article Puppy Love

Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue

[Dixie_Flyer]

Dashonthedash wrote:
Guess where LA Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton lives?

Sardis, Georgia just below Waynesboro.

[Dashonthedash]

Guess where LA Dodger closer Jonathan Broxton lives?

[Dandy_Dan]

We rolled in here around 3:30 with rain all the way. It did let up to a light drizzle so we could get set up. Not supposed to get ice until Monday. Bummer. You all have a good rest of the week and a safe and happy weekend. Sarah and Ana slept most of the way down here.

[SGTJOE]

Safe travels to the Daniels clan.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Sue and I will be leaving in the morning going to Wytheville to meet Dan and Lori. We plan to be there for a week and then go to Cherokee, NC to meet the kids and then be home by Sunday afternoon. We are taking Suzie, Peaches, Hobo and Mama with us so wish us well. We will try to keep in touch if the campground has WIFI and I think it does. Anyway, have a great weekend and keep the thread going while we are on the road.

[Dixie_Flyer]

dogdiva wrote:
I wish i were going to Wythville with you, Have a safe and enjoyable trip

You were there with us a year ago weren't you? You were on your way back to Texas I think. Anyway we enjoyed the countryside and the beauty of the mountains so we thought it was worth it to go back and spend some time. Wish you could come, we will have a great time.

[vickiebec]

Hope Sue is too busy to read this!

[dogdiva]

I wish i were going to Wythville with you, Have a safe and enjoyable trip

[Dixie_Flyer]

SGTJOE wrote:
Richard those floaters are usually caused by a separation of the Retina and unless treated may lead to blindness. I would hope you had it repaired by a Specialist. This happened to me in Aug 08 and was really weird. I was cutting the grass and when I raised up from emptying the grass catcher all these little gnats were buzzing me. Couldn't catch them. Ended up in emergency who directed me to an Optomologist the next morning. He found the tear and used laser to repair it. The floaters slowly started going away, sometimes they will. If they don't go away there is a procedure to remove them. All they are is blood. The Doc also found that I had cataracts, getting these done before we head to Yuma in Jan. Hope all goes well for you.

That is the way the left eye started, just as you described. The doctor said I had a torn Retina. Seven surgeries later I am blind in the left eye. I don't won't the same thing to happen to my right eye and until I have sight in the left once again I will take my chances with the right one.

[SGTJOE]

Richard those floaters are usually caused by a separation of the Retina and unless treated may lead to blindness. I would hope you had it repaired by a Specialist. This happened to me in Aug 08 and was really weird. I was cutting the grass and when I raised up from emptying the grass catcher all these little gnats were buzzing me. Couldn't catch them. Ended up in emergency who directed me to an Optomologist the next morning. He found the tear and used laser to repair it. The floaters slowly started going away, sometimes they will. If they don't go away there is a procedure to remove them. All they are is blood. The Doc also found that I had cataracts, getting these done before we head to Yuma in Jan. Hope all goes well for you.

[Dixie_Flyer]

There is a lot to be done so I feel the pressure of duty vs want to. Anyway, Sue and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Wytheville, Virginia to meet up with Dan and Lori. This will be our last outting until December when we plan to go to Hunting Island for New Year's. If God Is willing and I am able to see clearly again with my left eye then we will try to get the right eye fixed that has the large floaters in it. I haven't allowed the doctor to examine that eye because it is the only eye I can see out of. Sometimes my vision is blurred for a while as these large floaters pass by my line of vision and stay there. Then they pass on and the vision clears. I have lived with this for a few years so I have become accustom to it and I don't allow it to bother me. When driving I simply tell Sue I need to stop and rest for a while and she doesn't know the difference. So let's keep this between you and I okay?

Okay I have to run for now, talk again with you a little later.

[Hoops]

Good news about the squirrel. Keep us posted on the walk and when finished we want pictures.

Have a great day everyone.

[Dixie_Flyer]

Last night before I went to bed I put a blanket in the dryer and got it warm again and put it on the squirrel along with giving him more Rescue Remedy and some water by using an eye dropper. I could tell he would swallowed by the movement of his mouth and throat. This morning he was gone,hopefully back to his home.

The bricks for the thirteen will have to have a plaque next spring telling the story behind the bricks that will be laid in the walkway that has the thirteen stars and says "Always Remembered". I plan to do that myself since we didn't have enough to put all of the thirteen bricks as planned, I hope that is okay with everyone. We were running out of time to get the walk done so that the city would be able to do their part they promised to do before running out of budget.

Anyway I am glad the squirrel was able to climb out of the box on his own, if he couls do that, then must be doing better. I believe he was in shock more than anything else. I just prayed very hard last night that God would give him the strength to heal and leave on his own.

[dogdiva]

I hope the little squrrel makes it, Perhaps a trip to the vet to see what can be done for its injuries

[Ron___Shirley]

Richard the injured squirrel will need some heat. Depending on the age even a light bulb hanging over the box.

Great job on the letter. It needed to be said.


Shirley